National News

Maharashtra Government Launches 15-Day Reading Campaign for Students.

• The Maharashtra government has launched a 15-day reading campaign for students starting on January 1, 2025.
• Announced by the Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, the initiative aims to promote reading habits among students across the state.
• The campaign will be held annually from January 1-15, with committees set up at various levels to monitor its progress.
• The government plans to reward winners of activities conducted as part of this campaign.

  About Maharashtra:

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis (Third Term)
• Deputy Chief Ministers: Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar
• Governor: C.P. Radhakrishnan
• Legislative Assembly Speaker: Rahul Narwekar

Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation Empowers Women Entrepreneurs.

• The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has launched a flagship initiative called ‘Faral Sakhi’ to empower women entrepreneurs in the city.
• This program focuses on supporting women involved in traditional snack production, helping them scale their businesses sustainably.
• In collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, Faral Sakhi was formally introduced under the Award to Reward initiative.
• The program aims to create permanent employment opportunities for women by involving them in the production and sale of traditional festive snacks, known as ‘Faral’.
• A central kitchen set up by MBMC will allow women from self-help groups (SHGs) to professionally prepare these snacks.
• A total of 25 women from Mira Bhayandar will undergo technical training in business operations.
• This training, provided by the Centre for Education, Governance, and Public Policy (CEGP Foundation), will equip them with the necessary skills to build sustainable businesses and contribute to the local economy.

Blinkit Launches 10-Minute Ambulance Service in Gurugram.

• Blinkit, the quick-commerce company, has launched a revolutionary 10-minute ambulance service in Gurugram.
• The initiative aims to provide rapid emergency medical response to those in need, with plans to expand the service to other cities across India in the next two years.
• The service will feature ambulances equipped with essential medical equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), stretchers, monitors, suction machines, and emergency medications.
• Each ambulance will also be staffed with a paramedic, an assistant, and a trained driver.
• Currently, five ambulances are operational in Gurugram, and users can book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance via the Blinkit app.
• This service is designed to significantly reduce response time in medical emergencies, offering quick access to critical care when every second counts.

India Submits 4th Biennial Update Report on Climate Change to UNFCCC.

• India has officially submitted its 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 30, 2024.
• The report provides updated information on India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate actions, and progress toward meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The BUR-4 includes an updated National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for 2020, detailing efforts to reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience.
• It also highlights India’s continued progress in decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions, achieving a 36% reduction in emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2005 to 2020.
• Key achievements include India’s renewable energy capacity, which has grown significantly, with 46.52% of the country’s installed electricity generation capacity now coming from non-fossil sources as of October 2024.
• India’s forest and tree cover has also increased, contributing to a carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent between 2005 and 2021.
• The report underscores India’s commitment to tackling climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

IIT Madras Collaborates with Agriculture Ministry to Enhance Extension System.

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has partnered with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to improve the agricultural extension system through digitalization.
• This collaboration is focused on the development of the Vistaar project (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), aimed at enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of agricultural services.
• The project, which is being piloted by IIT Madras, utilizes the institute’s technological expertise to enrich the Vistaar platform with valuable information about agricultural startups and allied sectors.
• This will enable farmers and other stakeholders to access key resources and innovations in agriculture, promoting sustainability and improving productivity.
• As part of the initiative, IIT Madras will work closely with the Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Financing and its incubated startup, YNOS Venture Engine, to provide comprehensive data and digital tools to support the growth of agricultural startups.
• The collaboration seeks to empower farmers with the latest technological advancements and foster greater engagement with the agricultural sector.

                     International News

Pakistan Begins Two-Year Term as Non-Permanent Member of UNSC.

• On January 1, 2025, Pakistan officially commenced its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• This marks the country’s eighth time holding a seat on the prestigious 15-member body, where it will contribute to global peace and security discussions.
• Pakistan's term on the UNSC will last for the 2025-2026 period, replacing Japan, which previously occupied the Asian seat.
• The country’s delegation has pledged to play an active and constructive role in addressing key international challenges.
• Pakistan joins the permanent members of the UNSC (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France), as well as other newly elected non-permanent members.
• This election was the result of Pakistan's strong position in the UN General Assembly vote, where it was selected alongside Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia, replacing countries such as Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland.
• Pakistan's previous terms on the UNSC were in 2012-2013, 2003-2004, 1993-1994, 1983-1984, 1976-1977, 1968-1969, and 1952-1953.

                     Banking and Financial

SBI Introduces Digital NRI Account Onboarding Process.

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new digital onboarding process for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to simplify the opening of Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts.
• This TAB-based digital onboarding initiative, available at all SBI branches in India and select foreign locations, aims to streamline the account opening procedure for NRIs.
• With the new digital process, NRIs can now open their accounts without the need for physical paperwork.
• The system uses digital tools to verify documents quickly, offering a faster and more convenient way for NRIs to complete the account opening process.
• This initiative is designed to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and make banking more accessible to Indians living abroad.
• NRI accounts offered by SBI provide tailored banking solutions for Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) living overseas, allowing them to manage financial transactions, investments, and other banking needs in India effectively.

 Recent Banking & Insurance Developments

• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and RGA have launched a first-of-its-kind health product covering women-specific ailments.
• Bank of Baroda has introduced Phygital Branches to enhance the customer banking experience.
• LazyPay unveiled the "LazyPay EMI" service to facilitate high-value purchases.

Federal Bank Launches FedOne, a Digital Platform for Corporate Banking.

• Federal Bank, one of India's leading private sector banks, has unveiled FedOne, a new digital transaction banking platform powered by Nucleus Software’s FinnAxia solution.
• This cutting-edge platform marks a significant step in the bank's digital transformation journey, aiming to modernize its corporate banking services.
• The implementation of FedOne, which took 10 months to complete, is designed to enhance efficiency and streamline processes within corporate banking.
• By leveraging advanced technology, the platform will enable Federal Bank to tap into new business opportunities while providing exceptional value to its corporate clients.
• FedOne is expected to revolutionize the corporate banking sector by delivering a more efficient, user-friendly banking experience and facilitating smoother financial operations for businesses.

                           Appointments

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Appointed as DGCA Chief.

• Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has been appointed as the new Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India.
• A 1996-batch officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Kidwai is currently serving as the Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• His appointment is part of the government's effort to strengthen and modernize India's aviation regulatory body.

  Other Recent Appointments

• Ashutosh Agnihoti: Appointed Chairman & Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Agnihotri previously served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Akash Tripathi: Appointed Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power.
• Kamal Kishore Soan: Elevated to Additional Secretary & Mission Director of the Jal Jeevan Mission under the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
• Shubha Thakur: Appointed as Additional Secretary in the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

  Other Key Appointments:

• Secretary General of ASSOCHAM: Manish Singhal takes over from Deepak Sood.
• CEO of UIDAI: Bhuvnesh Kumar succeeds Amit Agrawal.
• First Transgender Woman Lecturer at Karnataka University: K N Renuka Pujar appointed in the Kannada Department.
• Chairperson of NABL: Dr. Sandip Shah.
• Revenue Secretary in the Finance Ministry: Arunish Chawla.
• Textiles Secretary: Neelam Shami Rao.

                      Books and Authors

Amit Shah Releases Book on Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released the book "Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages".
• The book, edited by Professor Raghuvendra Tanwar, Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), provides a comprehensive visual and historical account of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, highlighting their rich cultural and historical heritage.
• This book aims to educate readers about the historical continuities and connections of the region, showcasing its significance through the ages.
• It also offers insights into the socio-cultural evolution of these areas, which have played an essential role in India's history.
• The release of this book comes as part of a larger initiative to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

                               Obituary

Renowned Botanist K S Manilal Passes Away.

• Renowned botanist K S Manilal, known for his significant contributions to the field of botany, has passed away at the age of 86 in Thrissur.
• Manilal is best remembered for reviving the landmark 17th-century botanical work Hortus Malabaricus, a comprehensive compendium of medicinal plants from Kerala, by translating it into English and Malayalam.
• Throughout his career, Manilal made invaluable contributions to the study of plant taxonomy. He also served as the Head of the Department of Botany at Calicut University.
• His dedication to the preservation and study of flora earned him numerous accolades, including the E K Janaki Ammal Taxonomy Award in 2003.
• Additionally, he was honored with the Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau, a prestigious civilian honor from the Netherlands, awarded by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix.
• In 2020, the Government of India recognized Manilal's remarkable contributions to botany by awarding him the Padma Shri.
• His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of botanists and researchers in India and beyond.